Birding and other distractions

We started the day at Aegian flats and adjacent marsh. Birds of note included a Stone Curlew and two Ruddy Shelduck, plus two rather distant Spur-winged Plover from the bandstand. It was hard work in Achladeri forest with no sign of Kruper's Nuthatch. However, Short-toed Treecreeper were fairly easy to find, and there was a female Pied Flycatcher plus a group of Alpine Swift flew over. At Metochi Lake we saw both male and female Little Crake, a Squacco Heron, and a good number of Bee-eaters. Kalloni Saltpans had a White-winged Black Tern, two Little Tern, nine Slender-billed Gulls, a Little Gull, Marsh Sandpiper and c100 Ruff. The number of birds on Alykes wetland was extraordinary, in particular with up to 2000 Swallow. Two Short-toed Eagle, a ring-tail harrier, eight Black Stork, a Spoonbill, Gull-billed Tern, Purple Heron, and four Squacco Heron added to the spectacle. Bee-eater  Female Little Crake  Male Little Crake  Black Stork Gull-billed Tern  Squacco Heron...

We walked the perimeter road on both sides of the hill at Ipsilou. It was windy on the south side though there was more shelter when reaching the tree belt. The south side was fairly quiet with just Black-eared Wheatear and Cirl Bunting of note. The north side had similar birds though also Blue Rock Thrush, while an Agami Lizard and Snake-eyed Lizard provided alternative interest. However, as last year it was the lower slopes that were most productive with several Isabelline Wheatear, a Scops Owl, a Collared Flycatcher, and an attractive Cinereous Bunting in full song, throwing its head back as it did so. On route to Sigri two falcons in flight were thought to be Lesser Kestrels. Highlights in the Faneromeni area were three Woodchat a  Red-backed Shrike, three Turtle Doves, and a Whinchat. Agami lizard Blue Rock Thrush  Isabelline Wheatear  Scops Owl  Cinereous Bunting  Male Red-backed Shrike  Woodchat Shrikes The lower ford at Faneromeni

A lovely day with unbroken sunshine and light winds. The birding began on the beach in Kalloni Bay with several Black-necked Grebes offshore plus a single Great Crested Grebe. Then to the mudflats opposite the Aegian hotel, which held up to 15 Gull-billed Terns, a Whiskered Tern, Glossy Ibis, a couple of Little Ringed Plover and numerous Kentish Plovers. A distant Long-legged Buzzard sat atop a telegraph pole. Red-throated Pipits were  heard and five sat on telephone wires though were backlit by the sun so their detail was less than ideal. Then to the Kalloni Saltpans with extraordinary numbers of birds on the nearby Alykes wetland. A Eurasian Bittern, a minimum of five Purple Herons, three Squacco Herons, three Black Storks, two Dalmatian Pelicans, two Collared Pratincoles, and approx 40 Garganey were among the birds present on the wetland. The saltpans had three first-summer Little Gulls, three Slender-billed Gulls, and a Marsh Sandpiper, together with many other birds. Two Whinc...

We picked up the hire car at about 1:30 and headed west along the coast to Haramida, the site where Ruppell's Warbler has been present in recent years. I may have heard one sing briefly but failed to see it. However, excellent views of Cretzschmar's Bunting and Sardinian Warbler were obtained, and an Alpine Swift flew over together with numerous Red-rumped Swallows. An Orphean Warbler was also seen, though only briefly. What was probably a Thrush Nightingale was in song though the bird did not show itself. The next stop was the Kalloni Saltpans where Marsh Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, 2-3 Spotted Redshank, and several Ruff were among the waders present. Sardinian Warbler  Spotted Redshanks and Wood Sandpiper  Marsh Sandpiper  Ruff

An afternoon visit following a survey (BBS) at Marden.  In previous years I've seen the odd Wheatear in the Ivy Fleet paddock at Allhallows, and was hoping for the same today. As it happened I found one quite soon, then another two, all very smart males. Walking further along it was clear that at least five were present. The final tally of Wheatears was six birds, which included one female. Nearby, Sedge Warblers were singing from reeds alongside the fleet. A Cattle Egret flew over Binney Marsh and landed out of sight. At Northward Hill I heard my first Willow Warbler of the year, and there were three Nightingales in song, though all kept well hidden. A young Common Lizard was found on a pile of logs. Male Northern Wheatear Female Northern Wheatear As above Cattle Egret